By JESSE GRAHAM
SCHOOL programs for vulnerable students will continue for the next two years, after the Victorian Government announced a renewal of the School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) program.
On 9 November, the Victorian Government announced a two-year continuation of SFYS, which funds early intervention projects in schools for at-risk 10 to 18-year-olds, to keep them engaged at school.
The renewal comes months after an advocacy push by the Yarra Ranges Council, which wanted to see the funding renewed before the current funds ceased at the end of the year.
Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister told the Mail in a visit to Coldstream Primary School that it was a “relief” to have the funding secured for coming years.
“Given that we’ve been pushing for that to happen for quite some time, it’s a feeling of relief,” she said.
“It’s great to have it for another two years, but it would be great if it was just recurrent funding.”
Coldstream PS principal Peter Donaldson said the SFYS program funded a mentorship program through council, where 12 students were paired with adults they could go to for advice, and who helped to keep them focused on their education.
“We talk to the parents about the kind of issues the child’s having that the mentors can assist,” Mr Donaldson said.
“The idea of a mentor is really to give them one more adult they can confide in and utilise.”
As part of the program, local artist Brad Colling helped students to create a mural, which features the outline of Australia, with human-shaped puzzle pieces, some listing different resilient traits.
“We focused on the kids with mentors – they met Brad, and they came up with the idea of this jigsaw-type arrangement,” Mr Donaldson said.
The map is missing one person-shaped jigsaw piece – which is representative of how students fit into their communities.
Education Minister and Monbulk MP James Merlino said the funding would help schools to build “effective collaborative partnerships” with youth and community services, and creating a “holistic approach” for supporting vulnerable students.
